Collapsible box construction



Oct. l7,` 1950 E. v. sMlTH ETAL 2,525,838

coLLAPsIBLE Box CONSTRUCTION Filed sept. so, 1949 INVENTOR. f2/weze V. SMN-H BY M9/van. DyN/v HTTOPNEY e Patented Oct 17, 1950- l 2,525,8esl

NTN OFFICE ooLLar'smLE B0X CONSTRUCTION site;

v. smith and E'n'iiei r. nime,

l "Philadelphia, Pa,

i Aliplieato september so, 194.9, serial No. 11ans The present invention relates to new anduseful collapsible containers` and `particularly to relatively large, rigid, light-Weight Wooden containersof the type employed for storing and/or transporting bulky bakery-products such as loaves or bread or the like. l `An objectoi the present invention is vide a light-weightstrong, rigid bread-box of the-general style and type employed by` bakeries for storing and transporting 40 loaves of bread; which boX is adapted` tobe partially dismantled and collapsed or fknocked-down, whereby Said box may be stored, `when empty, ina fraction of the space requiredV of a `non-collapsible breadbox. t f l, i. y Another object of thepresentinvention ,isito providea collapsible storage-cpntainerwhich has solenne; (ci. 217-46) f Figure represents a cross-sectional vievv along line 54E-0f Figure 1. l

Figure.. 6 represents a bottom plan View of the side. and'end panels of the collapsible box` of the to prointerlocking means thereon whereby to permit a 1 plurality ofsaid contatnersor boxes to be stacked upon each other in interloeking relationship whereby said boxesor containers may be neatly and securely piled when fully openedl and whereby said pile or stack of boxes `tvilLnot` berdisar-g ranged vvhe'n subjected to a lateral or horizontal force. Y e l t p t p i Further objectsof the present invention Will be apparent by` reference'to the 'appended specication, claims and drawings.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the accernpanyingd `drawings a fpm" ppfpf Whip@ ipptprpspptpreferrea a1.- though it `istobe understood that the various ipifpmpptpiip pi` Wbph the ipreptipn. pppsists can be variouely"arrangetlnand orgapiaedandkthat the "invention is not wlimitedmto theprecise; ar,- rangements andtorganizations of the` instrumentalities aslherein shownmanddesoribed-my", M,

Referring pow e tout the drawings t "ew reference characters"indicate` like parts i, l t Figure l represents a top t perspective view of` the collapsible box of thepresent invention,` shovv-U` ing uthe boxufully extended inqits non-collapsed position with the bottom thereof in `operative position between"` the" side-members thereofm Figure 2`represents a topperspetivemview of the collapsible boXnof` thepresent invention with the` end members thereof in partly collapsed 13951.. tion and with the bottom panel removed therefrom. e l 4, e

Figure 3 represents@ .ppttprp perspective View `fthe bottom panel of the collapsible box of the present invention. e t

Figure 4 represents 1atrendM elevational j (ietyf` of l ippeappllapspla paies pf. ipp. present `plrpptipp in stacked interlocked relation to one another.

present inventionfshowniii fully folded position.

. The" collapsible `,box `ofkthe present invention. is a `generally rectangular, five-sided, open-top` inflexible container including tvvo Side-panelsl aii'dllg, centrally split end-panels l2 and i3 and 'a bottom Aipa'nel. |4. i i

`,The',sidexpfanels l0 and `Il may be fabricated and include the., horizontal frame-members or rails; land i6 and the vertical frame-members or` rails i] and l8, suitably reinforced at the corners by thelupper and loWervbuer-plates or braclretslA and Zrespectiv'ely. A relatively thin sheet-memberzl is rigidly secured tothe frame members l5, i6, l1 and I8 inthe grooves or1rabbets `22 thereof,` as shown more clearly inFigure 5, Therabbetted joints betweenthe frame members l5, I6, l1 and I8 and the sheet-member;2l provide a `smooth uninterrupted interior surface forthe side portions l0 and ll, as is evident by reference to Figure 5. The endpanels, l2 and I3 are centrally spli asat` 23 and 24, respectively, to provide separate members lf2, i212 and |30, andilSb. The individual panels l 2a, |212, i3d and 13b may be fabricated of frame.` and` panel members similar to the side Imanol lh are alignedlwiththe vedges of the side Vpanel l B `when thebox` of,` the present invention is `open toits non-collapsedlposition, `with the endrpanels lZa and 13b', at right angles` to the side panel ll,l as shown in Figure l. In like'rnanfner, the end panels 12b and 23a are pivotally se;- cured to the side panel l l by a plurality of `hinges 26. The hinges 25 and 26 permit the endpanels l2, l3band 12b and i3d, to swing toward andto Y fold against the side panels` l@ and l l in a juxtaconnected by av plurality` of `hinges `2li, in` a; Ina-nf4 ner which permits the, central, juxtaposed hinged` edges `23i and 24 of the end-panels IZ'and I3 to pivot inwardly about the hinge members 25 and 26 at the corner edges of the panels I and II, respectively. Thus, when the bottom panel I4 is removed from its position between the side members I3, II, I2 and I3, the end 'panels I2 and I3 may be folded inwardly as shown particularly in Figure 2, until the inner surfaces thereof abut the inner surfaces -of the panels Ill and II, with the outer surfaces of the panels I2a and |219 touching each other and the outer surface of the panels I3a and I3b adjacent to and in contact with each other. The completely folded side-panels and end-panels are shown in Figure d.

The hinge members 25, 26, 2l and 28 may be appropriately recessed into the adjoining panelmembers to minimize the bulk and thickness of the side-panels and end-panels when in the collapsed position shown in Figure 6.'

The bottom panel III is generally rectangular in shape and adapted to fit within the space defined by the inner surface of the side-panels IQ l,and II and the end-panels I2 and I3, when said panels are extended to the non-collapsed position shown in Figure l. Thus the bottom panel I4 may be lowered within the side panels I0, II, I2 and I3 until the lower surface of the main body portion 29 thereof is aligned with the lower edge of the side and end panels, as shown in Figure 5.

A plurality of angle-brackets or supports 3l), of a generally L-shaped configuration, are olisposed along and secured to the lower framemembers or rails (such as the frame member I3) of the side-panels I Il and II and end-panels` I2 and I3, with the horizontal portions thereof extending inwardly beneath the rails and beyond the inner surface of the sideV and end panels. 'Ihe brackets 30 are adapted to contact the under surface of the body portion 29 of the bottom panel I4 when the bottom panel I4 is in operative position between the side panels and the end panels.

' A plurality of skids or runners 3| and 32 are disposed along the under surface of the bottom panel I4 along the side edges thereof. The runners 3| and 32 are adapted to rest between the L-shaped brackets 30 to afford greater rigidity to the assembled side, end and bottom panels, as well as to provide protective means upon which the bottom of the collapsible box of the present invention may rest when the container is lled with merchandise and placed upon a supporting surface. If desired, appropriate sheathing or protective metallic plates 33 may be secured to the skids or runners 3| and 32 particularly near the ends 34 thereof.

The skids or runners 3| and 32 have a vertical dimension sufficient to permit the runners to protrude beneath the lower edge of the side and ends of the box and particularly below the L-shaped brackets 33, as is shown particularly in Figure 5, so that the lower portion of the skids or runners 3| and 32, may interlockingly engage the inner surface of the upper framemembers or rails (such as the frame member I5) when a plurality of the boxes of the present invention are stacked upon each other in interlocking relationship, as shown in Figure 4. Thus the ends 34 of the runners 32 will contact a portion of the inner surface of the upper frame-member of the end panels I2 and I3 and the side surface 35 of the runners 3| will abut a portion of the inner surface of the upper rail of the side-panels IIJ and II. The skids or runners 3| and 3,2 provide means for inter- 4 A locking a plurality of boxes, and the containers of the present invention may be superimposed and. stacked upon each other and will remain in the inter-engaged position even though subjected to horizontal side-forces (such as theV Yspirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and Vdesire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A collapsible rigid-walled container including vertical side-members having hinge-members operatively secured to theA inner surface thereof in spaced relation to the vertical edges thereof, centrally and vertically split end members operatively secured along the inner vertical edges thereof to said hinge-members, said end-members pivotally secured along said central vertical split whereby said end-members may be moved inwardly and said side-members simultaneously moved toward each other, a removable bottom-member adapted to be supported between saidV end-members and sidemembers by a plurality of brackets extending inwardly from the lower horizontal edges of said side-members and end-members, spacers depending from said bottom-member adapted to extend between and beneath said brackets and said side-members and end-members whereby to rigidify said side-members and end-members when said bottom-member is disposed therebe-. tween and to provide interlocking means adapted to engage the upper horizontal edges of a sim--. ilar collapsible rigid-walled container` aligned#` therebeneath to prevent relative horizontall movement therebetween.

2. Acollapsible rigid-walled container includ'- ing vertical side-members comprising panel and; frame portions having a flush interior surface,- and having hinge-members operatively securedg to the inner surface thereof in spaced relation to the vertical edges thereof, centrally and vertically split end-members comprising panel and frame portions having a flush interior ksurface operativelysecured along the inner vertical edges thereof to said hinge-members, said end-members pivotallysecured along said central vertical split whereby said end-members may be moved inwardly and said side-members simultaneously moved toward each other, a removable bottom-member adapted to be supported'between said end-members and side-members by a plurality of brackets extending inwardly from the lower horizontal edges of said side-members and end-members, spacers depending from said bottom-member adapted to extend between and beneath said brackets and said side-members and end-members whereby to rigidify said side-members and end-members when said bottom-member is disposed therebetween and to provide interlocking means,

adapted to engage the upper horizontal edges of a similar collapsible rigid-walled container aligned therebeneath to prevent horizontal movement therebetween.

3. A collapsible rigid-walled container including vertical side-members having hinge-members operatively secured to the inner surface thereof in spaced relation to the vertical edges thereof, centrally and vertically Split end-members operatively secured along the inner vertical edges thereof to said hinge-members, said endmembers pivotally secured along said central vertical split whereby said end-members may be moved inwardly and said side-members simultaneously moved toward each other until a space of only twice the thickness of said end-members intervenes said side-members, a removable bottom-member adapted to be supported between said end-members and side-members by a plurality of brackets extending inwardly from the lower horizontal edges of said side-members and end-members, spacers depending from said bottom-member adapted to extend between and beneath said brackets and said side-members and end-members whereby to rigidify said sidemembers and end-members when said bottommember is disposed therebetween and to provide interlocking means adapted to engage the upper horizontal edges of a similar collapsible rigidwalled container aligned therebeneath to pre.- vent relative horizontal movement therebetween.

4. A collapsible rigid-walled container including vertical side-members having hinge-members operatively secured to the inner surface thereof in spaced relation to the vertical edges thereof, centrally and vertically split end-members operatively secured along the inner vertical edges thereof to said hinge-members, said endmembers pivotally secured along said central vertical split whereby said end-members maybe moved inwardly and said side-members simultaneously moved toward each other, a removable Y bottom-member adapted to be supported between said end-members and side-members by' a plurality Vof brackets extending inwardly from the lower horizontal edges of said side-members` and end-members, with the lower surface thereof iiush with the bottom edge of said side-members and end-members, spacers depending from said bottom-member adapted to extend between and beneath said brackets and said side-members and end-members whereby to rigidify said side-members and end-members when said bottom-member is disposed therebetween and to provide interlocking means adapted to engage the upper horizontal edges of a similar collapsible rigid-walled container aligned-therebeneath to prevent relative horizontal movement therebetween.

ELMER V. SMITH. EMANUEL T. DUNN.

No references cited. 

